Conservation officer shoots, kills cougar in Illinois

ILLINOIS — An Illinois conservation officer shot and killed a cougar on a farm near Morrison, Ill. after it ran toward a farmhouse on Wednesday.

According to WQAD, farm owners reported seeing a large cat running from a corn field toward their home and outbuildings earlier this week.

A conversation police officer with the Illinois Department of Natural Resource found the cougar in a concrete tunnel beneath a corn crib.

After consulting with the farm owner’s wife and wildlife personnel, a spokesperson for the Illinois DNR decided the cougar should be euthanized.

The animal appeared to weigh more than 100 pounds and was almost 6-feet-long.

The officer used his service rifle to shoot and kill the cougar.

The DNR says cougars, also known as mountain lions, are not protected by Illinois Wildlife Code. Cougars found in Illinois are thought to be transient and no resident cougar population is believed to exist in the state.

THE POOR ANIMAL WAS HIDING IN A TUNNEL SO WHY NOT
BLOCK THE TUNNEL AND GET A CAGE OVER THE ENTRANCE.
PLENTY OF TIME TO GET A TRANQUILIZER GUN IF YOU BLOCK
THE TUNNEL. THE OFFICER IS A JERK AND JUST WANTED TO
SAY HE SHOT A COUGAR. HE IS REALLY A BIG MAN TO DO THAT.
EXCUSE ME NOW….THAT OFFICE MAKES ME VOMIT.

Sherman Reynolds

Apex predator’s that become habituated to humans, that is, to lose their natural fear of man are a very real danger to humans, especially young children. Big cat populations in the US are on the rise due to conservation practices. A cougar naturally has an estimated range of approx. 75 square miles and will protect their territory by running other cougars off. It is estimated that a cougar will travel 20 to 30 miles a day within its territory while searching for a kill. It is estimated that a cougar will kill a deer on the average of three a month. While cougar are normally very reclusive animals and infrequently seen in the wild, that scenario is changing due to unchecked population growth. In Grays Harbor County, Washington, cougar populations are on the rise and are frequently seen in and around homes in well populated areas. This unchecked population growth is due to the efforts of city dwellers and those who have little or no understanding of nature.
Yes, like other animals, including humans, we’re all out just trying to make a living…right!? Perhaps one of the animal rights lovers would like to offer up on of their own for cat food(anyone with a spare child or grandchild?)
The cougar killed in Illinois where there is no indigenous population was there for a reason…looking for new territory due to over population in other areas. The cat population is on the rise and they need new territory…period! Get used To the idea of increased human killings, especially children,as long as those making the rules insist that the big cats remain protected and population growth is unchecked.

Dogs attacks are on the rise also. So should we start shooting dogs?
As long as people are allowed to breed pit bulls then get used to
people of all ages being attacked and killed.
what about coyotes and bobcats?